“Communities Uniting to End Homelessness” features guest speakers who are leaders in homeless programming and policy, with an emphasis on the needs of Southwest Florida.

“This is the fourth year for the Annual Workshop on Homelessness to be held at FGCU,” executive director of the Coalition and associate professor of Social Work Gary Lounsberry says.

Workshop presentations include the new initiatives:

· public-private partnerships in housing finance and development

· new health care resources for homeless people, and

· applications of occupational therapy in homeless services

“This workshop is the major opportunity for all homeless service providers, advocates, housing programs, social service agencies and citizens interested in homeless issues to get together and learn what is happening in Southwest Florida, the state and the nation,” Lounsberry says.

“It is increasingly apparent that public-partnerships and collaborations are necessary to deal with the complex issues that result in people becoming homeless.”